“Yeah.”
“Hand him the phone,” he orders.
I hold my phone out to Alek, tempted to turn on the speaker so I know exactly what’s happening.But this is what my new life with Patrick could look like.I need to understand my place.And at the same time, Patrick is going to have to learn I’m not a sit-back-and-watch kind of girl.I’m all in, and I get my hands dirty too.
Patrick
As soon as we walk out of the hospital where my aunt is, my cell phone rings.I pull it from my pocket and see Barone’s name on the screen.
“Aldo,” I answer.
“You and my niece?Is this serious, or are you just using her to get to me, like the caller who just left me a message said?”
“Caller?What are you talking about?”
“A woman just called.She left a message saying she’s your girlfriend, and that she wanted me to know you were only using Daria as a means to get in with me.That you want my strip clubs on my side of town.MacEvoy, you know I’m not giving them to you.She doesn’t even inherit them.I won’t let my niece be used as a pawn.”
“Stop,” I bark into the phone.“Give me some respect before you chastise me like I’m one of your sons.Daria is mine.She’s my only girlfriend, and I don’t want any of your clubs.We need to meet with Morosov and get this figured out.There is a group trying to start a war, and now they’re dragging my woman into the mix.I won’t have her being used.”
“Your woman?Since when?”
“Since last night.”I don’t tell him any details, just that she’s mine now.
“I’ll be discussing this with her.Treat her right, or there will be consequences.Get Morosov, and we’ll meet.It’s about time.I have a bunch of shit going on too.”
“Okay.”
I hang up with him and dial Morosov.Andrei says he’ll put together a meeting.I offer my club, since it’s centrally located in town between everyone else’s properties.He agrees.
I go over Barone’s conversation, and it hits me.He said a woman called.
I dial Alek, but it just rings through to voicemail.I try again.Same thing.Where the fuck is he?
“Hayes, take me to the club, then go secure my woman.”
“Yes, sir.What about your meeting with Morosov?”
“He’ll put it together.”
“What about what we just found out in there?”JJ points at the hospital.
We’re all still shocked by what we found.I can’t believe it, and I won’t.
“Hayes, when you can, search for her.I’ll also talk with Lyric.”
Again, I dial Alek.When he doesn’t answer, I call my girl.She hands the phone over to her brother.Hopefully, he’s not causing me more issues with her.
“Alek,” I use his first name instead of calling him by his last name like usual.“Keep my woman under close observation.There’s some weird shit going on.A woman just called Barone and told him I was using Daria to get an in with the Italians, and that I want their clubs.”
“Yeah.She called here too, saying about the same thing, except that you wanted the Lucky Dice.”
“Fuck.”
“We have dinner with Barone tonight.”
“I’m sending Hayes to be with her and to represent my organization.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he starts to argue, but then pauses.“Do it.If this is as serious as I think it is, your organization should be there.I’m sure it’s just Barone checking to see if she’s as serious about you as you appear to be about her.Also with whoever this woman is who’s calling, you can show that her protection is important to you.”
